Automobile-tire.



J. A. BBTHEA.

AUTOMOBILE TIRE. APPLICATION FILED 1m41.191s;

1,066,368,' Patented July 1, 1913.`

AUToMoBInE-Tmn.

` Speclcatidn of Letters llatnt.

ratenaauia 1,1913.-

Application led January 11, 1913. Serial No. 741,523..

- To all 'whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, JosErH A. BETHEA,

Y a citizen of the United States, residing' at' of which t Brewton, in the county of Escambia and State of Alabama, have invented new and' useful Im rovements in Automobile-Tires,

lie following is a specification. p

This invention relates to tires for'automobiles, motor trucks, and self-propelled vehicles, the object in view being to provide v an all metal tire-as a substitute for the ordi- -nary pneumatic tire now in common use,

which will practically resist puncture and do away with all of the ordinary tire troubles. v

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

and pointed out in the claim hereunto ap-v pended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is aside elevation of a portion of a wheel rim and tire, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a cross section through the same on thevline 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. o

The tire contemplated in this invention is ,composed wholly of metal, preferably steel,

and embodies an inner section or rim 1, and y an outer or tread section or tire proper 2 The rim 1 is provided at its opposite sides with parallel flanges 3 extending circumferentially around the same, the'rim as a `whole being secured in any convenient manner to the wooden or other felly 4 of the wheel.

The tread member or tire 2 is composed of two sections, each' the counter part of the other, and primarily divided on the line 5. The. main body port-ion of the section 2 is substantially round or cylindrical in cross section, and is extended inwardly in the form of parallel flanges 6 which embrace and work against the outer faces of the iianges 3 ofthe rim, the flanges 6 being provided with annular grooves or seats 7, in which are placed packing rings 8, which,

by working in contact with the outer faces of the flan es 3, exclude all dirt, dust, water and other oreign matter.

At the extreme outer or tread portion of the member 2, a hollow circumferentially projecting anti-skid rib 9is provided, and

i extend transversely contractile springs -will be employed, but

j ust within said rib, reinforcing rings or strips 1'0 are secured permanently to vthe inner face of the section 2, adapting the same to be4 bored to recevepins 1T, which of the tread portion of the tire and have securedv thereto the outer extremities of a circular series of coiled 12, the inner extremities of which are attached to the eyesl 13 of a circular series of eye bolts 14. These eye bolts pass through the rim 1, and the felly 4, and are secured by means of nuts 15. J am nuts 16 are threaded on the bolts 14 outside of the nuts 15, and are provided with hoods or nipples 17 to cover and protect the threads of the eye bolts.

Arranged at suitable intervals throughout the body of the tire are tie bolts 18 which pass through openingsin the opposite sections of the tire, each bolt being provided at one end with a head 19, and at the opposite end with a nut 20 threaded thereon and locked in place by means of a split cotter pin 21.

Encircling each bolt 18 `is a sectional spacer, comprising the two members 22 and 23, said members having their inner ends arranged in in Figs. 3 and 4, and provided ends with anges 24 extendin in a circumferential direction and rivete or otherwise fastened to the tire sections, as shown at 25. These spacers 22 and 23 hold the sections of the tire at the proper distance apart, so that the flanges withA the outerr surfaces of the anges 3, thereby keeping the interior of the tire clean.

In addition to the hollow circumferential anti-skid rib 9, the tread surface of the tire is also provided with hollow transverse ribs or corrugations 26 which enable the tire to obtain the necessary hold or traction' upon Vthe surface being traveled upon.

The tie bolts 18 enable the opposite sections of the tread member 2 to be uncoupled from each other, for the purpose of applying the same to or detaching the same from the rim 3.

Any desired number of springs 24 may be employed,

at their outer Ordinarily, about twenty-four and half that number of tie bolts springs, left to the discretion of the manufacturer, and to be governed by the load which the wheel is'designed to support and carry.

this is a matter to bev abutting relation, as illustrated 6 will ride in close contact and also any desired number of i ti'e bolts 18.

What is claimed is:

The combination of a rim having parallel circumferential flanges', of a hollow steel tire having parallel inwardly extending 5 anges embracing and bearing against the rim flanges, coiled springs attached at their opposite ends to the tire and rim, the tire being centrally and longitudinally divided into twin sections and provided with a cen` 10 tral circumferentially projecting and internally channeled anti-skid rib and pins eX- tending across said channele rib and connecting the tire sections and having the springs attached thereto.

In testimon whereof I aix my signature in presence o two witnesses. Y

JOSEPH A.`BETHEA. Witnesses:

WALTER G. J oHNsoN, JOHN R. CRAKER.'

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

l Washington, D. C. 

